The Naked Gun

Liam Neeson “takin’ the piss” out of his tough guy persona is a no-brainer. He’s game, and the rest of the cast is, too. It’s enjoyable enough, if not always original or hilarious. The old Naked Gun movies derived from the Police Squad series which was a send-up of a certain kind of cop drama. This comedy avoids spoofing certain Liam Neeson movies and various CSI/Law & Order cop shows, which is a missed opportunity. It’s almost like it’s a “spoof” of the Naked Gun franchise, which is a weird thing to say. Some fan-service moments, and certain cameos, feel random and forced. Other sequences, like one bit of lunacy in a mountain chalet, are risky and inspired. Truly silly comedies are rare these days, so I appreciate the effort.